Melt & Mix Mud Cake!

You know those days where you feel like eating a real cake (ie not from a cake mix!) but yet you want it to be as easy as a cake mix? Well I had that feeling this weekend! I miss the kitchen... I feel like I haven't been in it much!!! And one of the best things in life is a rich smelling cake baking in your oven!

I found this recipe "Melt & Mix Mud Cake" from www.taste.com, which is a fantastic website for pretty easy recipes and they have a million chocolate and pasta recipes! I liked it because you literally just melted and mixed the ingredients, stirred it and put it in the oven! I have doubts on such recipes at times, but this one really did prove me wrong! It is a COMFORT cake! Rich and friendly! But on happy days, well, it can just make your day that bit better! :)

Ingredients (serves 8) (Thanks to www.taste.com.au)

• 200g butter, chopped
• 300g good-quality dark chocolate
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup self-raising flour
• pure icing sugar, to serve

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease a 6cm deep, 20cm (base) round cake pan. Line with baking paper.
2. Place butter, 200g chopped chocolate and hot water in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH (100%) for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute with a metal spoon, or until smooth. Add cocoa to warm chocolate mixture. Stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla, caster sugar and egg. Sift flour over chocolate mixture. Stir gently to combine.
3. Pour half the batter into cake pan. Chop remaining chocolate and sprinkle half over batter. Top with remaining batter and chopped chocolate. Bake cake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre has moist crumbs clinging.
4. Allow cake to cool completely in pan. Remove and dust with icing sugar. Serve.

It's crusty on the top and sizes, and inside the cake literally melts in your mouth... crumbly but soft and moist - for max. taste and cake experience, put it in the microwave for about 10s to soften it and honestly, with a cup of tea or coffee, you will add this to your list of blessings!!! :)

Happy weekend all! :)